Process Optimization and Integration Manager

APM Terminals•Elizabeth, NJ

1d•$90,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

APM Terminals Elizabeth is seeking an experienced OT Integration and Quality Manager to lead the integration, testing, validation, commissioning, and operational readiness of Operational Technology systems across the terminal. This leadership role is responsible for ensuring new and modified technology solutions are safely and effectively integrated into terminal operations while meeting defined technical, operational, and business requirements. Reporting to the Head of Operational Technology, you will provide leadership and governance across the complete technology implementation lifecycle. You will work closely with operations, IT, engineering, project teams, vendors, labor relations, and global functions to ensure technology investments translate into measurable operational improvements through enhanced reliability, resilience, safety, standardization, maintainability, and productivity. This is a highly visible leadership role that combines people leadership, technical expertise, stakeholder management, project execution, and continuous improvement in support of both the Elizabeth Upgrade Project and ongoing terminal operations.

Requirements

Continuous improvement mindset: we are looking for someone who brings a thoughtful improvement mindset, curious about how work gets done and motivated to make meaningful, sustainable improvements over time.
Leadership expectation: We are looking for people who consistently put customers first, lead by example with respect for people, deliver results with integrity, and drive continuous improvement by solving problems at the root, developing people, and raising standards every day.
Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industry 4.0, or a related discipline.
Proven experience within container terminal operations, port digitization, industrial automation, or large-scale industrial environments.
Strong expertise in Operational Technology systems, including Terminal Operating Systems (TOS), GOS, SCADA, ECS, OCR, APIs, middleware, OPC UA, and related technologies.
Demonstrated project management experience leading complex technology deployments and implementation programs.
Experience leading teams and managing diverse stakeholder groups across operational and technical environments.
Strong understanding of cybersecurity frameworks and enterprise IT standards within OT environments.
Ability to obtain and maintain a TWIC card and Port Access Card.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop the OT Integration and Quality team, establishing clear priorities, performance expectations, governance, and accountability frameworks.
Own the terminal's OT integration strategy, ensuring alignment between operational requirements, infrastructure, equipment, enterprise systems, and technical architecture.
Lead the OT quality assurance framework, including test strategy, system integration testing, user acceptance testing, regression testing, commissioning, production validation, and post-deployment verification.
Ensure testing scenarios, operational use cases, and validation processes accurately reflect terminal operating requirements and support safe production deployments.
Manage vendor and technology partner performance, ensuring delivery of milestones, quality standards, issue resolution, and post-handover support.
Build strong relationships across Operations, Engineering, IT, Labor Relations, project teams, global functions, and external vendors to resolve technical and operational challenges.
Lead or support root-cause investigations for significant OT system failures and ensure corrective and preventive actions are implemented and sustained.
Drive continuous improvement by standardizing, simplifying, and automating integration, testing, commissioning, release readiness, and documentation processes.